A Walk in the Parc

I threatened more park-related content, and here it is! Manon and I went on a nice morning stroll in Parc Angrignon. If you’ve ever taken the Green Line of the Montréal métro, that name will be familiar, as it’s the south-western terminus of the line.

It was a rainy morning, and we took the Green Line to the end. I’m sure it has nothing to do with it, but the Green Line is quite appropriate. What with springtime and the rain, the park is staggeringly, eyeball-grabbingly green.

The rain was just clearing up when we got to the park, and there were not many people about. In one empty parking lot, a Chinese man was practicing some exercise/martial art form that combined slow, smooth moves with the opening of a red fan with a vigorous snap. Other people walked their dogs (and some scofflaws let their dogs off leash, ‘though fewer than we’d see back in LA).

The highlight of our walk, though, was the wildlife. We sat on the lookout loungers where we listened to birds — and then Manon pointed and asked “is that a beaver!?” Sure enough, two small mammals were swimming in the pond. Were they beavers? We were pretty certain they were, but the internet makes me think it’s unlikely since beaver are crepuscular (primarily active at twilight) and not commonly seen in populated areas. Maybe otters? (Update: according to commenters on Reddit, they are beavers. Update2: Also according to commenters on Reddit, they’re muskrats. Based on the time of day of the observation, and the fact that there are known to be muskrats in Angrignon, I’m inclined to go with the latter.)

Shortly after the mystery mammals departed, a turtle cruised on by. As we reached the end of the long pond, we saw a blue heron! It was like we had gone to Canada-Country-Safari!

Just as were getting ready to run back, a friendly passerby enthusiastically pointed out another blue heron even closer!